Thursday, August 27, 2015

American Government and Why It Works (Federalist Essay #10)

Federalist Essay #10



"If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote. It may clog the administration, it may convulse the society; but it will be unable to execute and mask its violence under the forms of the Constitution. When a majority is included in a faction, the form of popular government, on the other hand, enables it to sacrifice to its ruling passion or interest both the public good and the rights of other citizens. To secure the public good and private rights against the danger of such a faction, and at the same time to preserve the spirit and the form of popular government, is then the great object to which our inquiries are directed. Let me add that it is the great desideratum by which this form of government can be rescued from the opprobrium under which it has so long labored, and be recommended to the esteem and adoption of mankind."

This talks about how when a faction does not have majority vote, it will be helped by the "republican principle" so that it can gain majority.

"The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended."

This is talking about the differences between a republic and democracy and the way that the officials are elected.


4 comments:

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  3. The passages that you have selected are very good portrayals of, some of the systems that can be seen in our modern day government

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  4. For the second example on Article 51 I think you are mistaken about how the argument is on checks and balances. I believe that he is arguing that by having two governments, one state and one federal, there is a better chance of people right's being acknowledged and not tossed aside without any chance of protecting their freedom.

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